Wednesday, April 13, 2011

U.S. Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez will visit Charlotte on Thursday as part of President Obama's initiative to reach out to minority groups.

JibrilHough of The Islamic Center of Charlotte said Perez, who also leads the department's Civil Rights Division, will meet with local Latinos and Muslims to learn about the community's concerns and instances of possible hate crimes.

Hough said the Muslim community in Charlotte has never had such a high ranking official request to meet with them in an effort to ensure the community's concerns about civil rights are being addressed.

“A meeting such as this is going beyond the typical 'lip service' that we often get from D.C.” Hough said.

Perez is also expected to meet with students and faculty at the Northwest School of the Arts, the Latin American Coalition, the Mecklenburg County Bar, Charlotte School of Law, and the John S. Leary Association of Black Lawyers while in Charlotte.

About this blog:

Franco Ordoñez writes about immigration (and Haiti) for the Charlotte Observer. This Land covers the latest news and ideas about one of the country’s most perplexing issues of our day. Email him at fordonez@charlotteobserver.com.